Disposable mop-heads



Feb. 7, 1956 E. D. HABER 2,733,468

DISPOSABLE MOP HEADS Filed Sept. 11, 1952 INVENTOR. 5512 0512 0 11/1555 ITI'OR/VEY' United States Patent 2,733,468 OSABLE MO 'Elizabetlrl): Haber, New-York, N Y. Application September 11, 1952, Serial No. 309,042 2 Claims. (Cl. 15225) This invention relates to floor cleaning implements such as mops, and more particularly, to mops having disposable heads.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a simple and eificient means for washing floors and other surfaces.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a highly improved mop, wherein the necessity for a mop receptacle is eliminated.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mop for washing floors which does not require a wringing operation.

It is still another object of the present invention to eliminate the need for storing wet mops.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mop having a disposable head which is extremely light in weight and does not require handling when wet.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a mop having a disposable head, which is simple and durable, which is effective for its intended purposes and which is inexpensive to manufacture and sell.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a mop head constructed in accordance with the present invention, a mop handle being shown in dotted outline;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 1, the handle being shown in full;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of strips forming component parts of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows an initial step in fabricating the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 shows an intermediate step in fabricating the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 upon completion of folding of the embodiment in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a slightly modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a later step in fabricating the device of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 10 represents a mop head to which a mop handle 11 is detachably secured.

The head 10 is fabricated of a pair of similar strips 12 and 13. The strips may be common paper toweling, or any other flexible, absorbent sheet material. One of the strips 12 is placed upon a horizontal supporting surface, not shown and a deformable wire 14 or other stiffener is arranged longitudinally and centrally of and upon the flexible strip 12. One longitudinal half 15 of the strip 12 is folded over the wire 14 and toward the other longitudinal half 16 of the strip 12. Thus, opposite longi- V tudinal' edges 17 and 1'8 of the strip12 arearrangedadjacent to and co-extensive wit l 1., each, other. Said edges are then together folded towardthe. stiifener, l-41exteriorly of the strip to form an elongated four-ply member hav ing stiffening means therewithin as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. e

The strip 12 in its completely folded poistion is then placed longitudinally of and upon the strip 13, as seen in Fig. 5. The longitudinal half 19 of the strip 13 is folded over the strip 12 and the other longitudinal half 20 of the strip 13 so that the longitudinal edges 21 and 22 are adjacent to and co-extensive with each other.

Adjacent the longitudinal edges 21 and 22 and extending therealong are adhesive portions 23 and 24. It is preferred to use waterproof adhesive material for a purpose to become apparent hereinafter. The adhesive portions 23 and 24 are then secured together as seen in Fig. 6. The strip 13 now completely encloses the strip 12 and stitfener 14. The strips, completed in the forms illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 may now be spirally wound with the convolutions overlapping each other, as shown in Fig. 2, or the adhesively secured edges may be gathered together at the longitudinal edges 21, 22 as shown in Fig. 8. By either method, a mop head will be formed, wherein the portion adjacent the edges 21 and 22 is contracted to form a neck portion 25 and the other end is extended by the stiffener 14 to form distended portion 26.

While it may sometimes be desirable to use the device as thus far described in the hand of the user, the device is well suited for easy attachment to the handle 11. The handle is provided with a spring clamp 12" which opens,

as seen in Fig. 1, and closes, as seen in Fig. 2, to yield-' ingly embrace the neck.

Under certain circumstances, it may be preferred to have a mop head of less size, weight or absorbency. To further this end, a slightly modified form of the device is shown in Fig. 7, wherein the strip 12' is substantially half the width of the strip 13. Therefore, the strip 12' is folded only once. This form has been found very well suited for use in lighter cleaning operations.

Of course, the mop may be used for wet mopping due to the high absorbency of paper. The mop may also be used for dusting as the distended end 26 forms a substantial dusting surface, best seen in Fig. 9. As the mop head is easily and quickly fabricated of inexpensive material, it has been found economical to dispose of the mop head after using. This eliminates the wringing out operation after use and also the storage of wet mops. If purchased in their fabricated condition, the mop heads are clean and may be stored in very little space, or purchased as needed. The mop head may be used with water, soap or powder, or it may be used dry. While it has proved economical to eliminate wringing by dispensing with the mop head, this also eliminates the hazard of foreign objects contacting the hands of the user. It has been found that a slight initial wringing or spraying of washing liquid on floor or other surface will greatly increase the life of a mop head during the single washing operation.

It shall be understood that the purpose of the wire or stiffener is to cause the mop to cover as large an area of the surface being cleaned as possible.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A disposable mop head comprising inner and outer elongated strips of absorbent material, said inner strip being longitudinally folded along its length thereof, said outer strip being longitudinally folded along its length over the inner strip to encompass the same, a deformable wire lying in the fold of one of the strips and extending 7 3 v 4 substantially along the length thereof, said folded strips References Cited in the file of this patent being spirally wound together upon themselves about UNITED STATES PATENTS an axis transverse to the length, and said outer strip hav- 1 127 875 g s r ges opposite the" fold gathered together and E1118 Feb. 9, 1915 Secured in a mass 5 1,387,472 Cox Aug. 16, 1921 1517864 Runk Dec. 2 1924 2. A disposable mop head as defined 1I1 clann 1 and said 5 4 6 4 Purvis May 13 1930 isxi fer str p being long y folded agam upon 1t 1 49 2 Evans Mar. 15, 1932 r 1,993,215 Hoyt et al. Mar. 5, 1935 1 10 2,104,196 Harmon Jan. 4, 1938 2,301,505 Bates Nov. 10, 1942 2,531,304 Seewald Nov. 21, 1950 

